Thursday, June 17, 2010

looking for someone who could check on the lupines about once a week from now until September and collect observations on things like whether the lupines are flowering, setting seed, whether there has been any disturbance, etc.

If you are interested? Unfortunately, there is no remuneration, just the knowledge that you'd be helping increase the knowledge base about this species and perhaps help us avoid some potential events (e.g. mowing or trampling) that might decimate the population.

Two populations exist in Port Coquitlam, one is on the east side of the Coquitlam River, just below the Kingsway Avenue bridge(the fenced in area), and also some along Kingsway beside the fence, that separates Kingsway Avenue from the CPR yards.

The other population is along the Pitt River, about midway between Pitt River Road and Coast Meridian Road, consisting of two small populations along the fence that separates the dikes from the industrial areas. (No Mowing signs, are on the fence) [ At one time they were much more common along this dyke, but industrial development greatly reduced their populations.]

Found in only six places in Canada, five in the Lower Fraser Valley, and one on Vancouver Island.

The months of May to September, are the most critical for these plants. The information most needed is: are they flowering, setting seeds, insect damage, and the most common problem are they being trampled, mowed, or disturbed by dike maintenance procedures. This information will be forwarded to the Streambank Lupine Recovery Team, who gather all of the information together about the status of this red-listed in Canada.